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Justice News

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Districts of Guam & the Northern Mariana Islands

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, January 27, 2014

Trifon Pineda Sentenced In District Court

ALICIA A.G. LIMTIACO, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Defendant Trifon Pineda, age 44, was sentenced on January 16, 2014, in the District Court of Guam by Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood. Pineda was sentenced to 55 months imprisonment, five years supervised release, ordered to pay a $100 assessment fee, and subject being deported.

Defendant and his co-defendant, Les Vitug, were arrested on a complaint on March 20, 2011. On March 23, 2011 the grand jury indicted the defendants for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On March 6, 2011, postal inspectors seized a package addressed from Les Vitug in California to Joan Vitug in Guam. Agents searched the package pursuant to a federal search warrant and recovered 27 grams of ice that was 99% pure. Les Vitug (sentenced on March 27, 2012 to 48 months) claimed the package and was detained by law enforcement agents. Vitug told agents he was picking up the package for his pare’ Pineda. Vitug called Pineda (with agents listening) to tell him the package was in. Pineda went to Vitug’s house where he was arrested. Pineda admitted that the package was his and it was sent to him by his brother Pablito Pineda who has also been indicted and has pled guilty. Pablito Pineda is awaiting sentencing.

Credit for the investigation is given to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Postal Service Inspectors, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Task Force Agents from the Superior Court of Guam’s Probation Office assigned to the DEA, Guam Customs and Quarantine, and the Guam Police Department. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde Lemons.